School librarians in Pasadena are an integral part of school culture.  They provide enriching safe spaces for students, books that students are actually interested in reading, engaging literacy programs, and vital instruction in research and information literacy. Study after study demonstrates that student achievement increases when schools have well-funded libraries staffed full time with certificated librarians. 

Communities all over the country are restricting students’ access to books by outright banning them. Why would we join them? Intentions don’t matter if the results are the same. Defunding libraries limits students’ access to books as much as banning them. 

Screen addiction, information manipulation, the algorithm, and artificial intelligence are contributing to a dangerous lack of literacy, empathy, and critical thinking. Our society and our district needs school librarians now more than ever. 

Please join in contacting PUSD leadership and the Board of Trustees with a personal message to ask them to save our full time school librarians.